THE SERPENT. I will tell Eve the secret; and she will tell it to you.
ADAM. The secret! [He turns quickly towards the serpent, and in doing so puts his foot on something sharp]. Oh!
EVE. What is it?
ADAM [rubbing his foot] A thistle. And there, next to it, a briar. And nettles, too! I am tired of pulling these things up to keep the garden pleasant for us for ever.
THE SERPENT. They do not grow very fast. They will not overrun the whole garden for a long time: not until you have laid down your burden and gone to sleep for ever. Why should you trouble yourself? Let the new Adams clear a place for themselves.
ADAM. That is very true. You must tell us your secret. You see, Eve, what a splendid thing it is not to have to live for ever.
EVE [throwing herself down discontentedly and plucking at the grass] That is so like a man. The moment you find we need not last for ever, you talk as if we were going to end today. You must clear away some of those horrid things, or we shall be scratched and stung whenever we forget to look where we are stepping.
ADAM. Oh yes, some of them, of course. But only some. I will clear them away tomorrow.
THE SERPENT [laughs]!!!
ADAM. That is a funny noise to make. I like it.